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1 Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2005 Three Approaches for Teaching Laryngeal Stability: Curing the "Necktie Tenor" Victor Isaac Hurtado Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact

2 THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC THREE APPROACHES FOR TEACHING LARYNGEAL STABILITY: CURING THE NECKTIE TENOR By VICTOR ISAAC HURTADO A Treatise submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Music Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2005

3 The members of the Committee approve the treatise of Victor Isaac Hurtado defended on March 30th, Stanford Olsen Professor Directing Treatise Seth Beckman Outside Committee Member Douglas Fisher Committee Member Larry Gerber Committee Member Jerrold Pope Committee Member The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii

4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My sincere thanks belong to the members of my committee who have helped shape the direction, content, and quality of this treatise. Stanford Olsen s teaching style facilitated my journey to laryngeal stability, and his guidance, counsel, and friendship have profoundly influenced my life as an artist, husband, father, and teacher. Jerrold Pope s two pedagogy seminars gave me my first clear understanding of the vocal apparatus, and they caused me to form ideas, opinions, and skills as a teacher. The time and effort he dedicates to students will serve as my example in the future. Douglas Fisher has impacted my life in the classroom, in the studio, and on the stage. His endless knowledge of all things opera, as well as his keen writing sensibility were influential on this paper and upon me as an artist. Professor Larry Gerber s pedagogical understanding, writing acumen, and his personal commitment as a committee member were a continual asset to the earning of my degree and completion of this paper. Dr. Seth Beckman selflessly agreed to a be a late addition to my committee in order to help me meet new requirements for the degree. I appreciate his help with this treatise and its subsequent defense. Finally, Dr. Clifford Madsen s class on behavior modification in music, as well as my training and year-long study of behavior management with Girls and Boys Town, USA were invaluable to the behavioral portions of this treatise. Above all, my wife Kim has been the driving force behind the completion of this treatise. Her kind prodding, editing, and formatting made this undertaking a much smoother process. Her support and love continue to inspire me. iii

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables...v Abstract... vi INTRODUCTION THE PROS AND CONS OF HIGH, LOW, AND DEPRESSED LARYNGEAL POSITIONS: THE CASE FOR THE COMFORTABLY LOW LARYNX STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING THE COMFORTABLY LOW LARYNGEAL POSITION THE INDIRECT APPROACH THE DIRECT APPROACH THE BEHAVIORAL APPROACH...48 BIBLIOGRAPHY...68 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH...71 iv

6 LIST OF TABLES 1. ABC s of Behavior Hypothetical Baseline Evaluation Sample of Positive Behavior Alternatives for Counter-Conditioning Goal Timetable...64 v

7 ABSTRACT Many singers struggle with the issue of laryngeal instability. A larynx that moves upward significantly during singing causes a variety of vocal complications, yet it too often goes undetected or unaddressed by voice teachers. Tenors in particular are prone to laryngeal elevation due to the frequent tessitura demands in the repertoire which exploit the transition into the high voice known as the passaggio. Tenors who struggle with laryngeal stability are often referred to as necktie tenors. Many classical singers acquire a stable laryngeal position early on in their training by establishing good posture and breathing skills, but some singers escape their early training with persistent habits of laryngeal instability. Once these habits solidify, they can be particularly difficult to correct. This text is intended to provide strategies to teachers and singers which will allow them to identify and correct varying degrees of habitual instability of the larynx in classical singing. vi

8 INTRODUCTION In his book Training Tenor Voices, pedagogue Richard Miller makes mention of a type of singer known as the necktie tenor. He describes this as one who raises his larynx in inhalation or at the onset, or with mounting pitch. 1 The derogatory term necktie, refers to the aural and visual aspects of many high laryngeal singers who, while producing thin and restricted sounds, tend to thrust the chin forward and tip the head back as they sing. Most authorities agree that in classical singing, the raised larynx is unacceptable. 2 A raised larynx produces sounds lacking resonance and projection, and it puts strain on the vocal folds. While many students of singing are able to find a more stable, low laryngeal position by correcting their posture and breathing, a number of singers struggle with this issue perpetually. 3 In fact, for singers with severe high-larynx habits, the task of singing with a stable, low larynx is daunting. Aronson admits that in therapy for lowering laryngeal position, the musculoskeletal tension [of the larynx] is a powerfully resistive force, and less aggressive methods often fail. 4 This treatise provides both aggressive and less aggressive methods for correcting laryngeal instability and establishing the low laryngeal position. 1 Richard Miller, Training Tenor Voices (New York: Schirmer Books, 1993), Craig Timberlake, Pedagogical Perspectives, Past and Present: Laryngeal Positioning, NATS Journal (September/October 1994), Miller, Traning Tenor Voices, A. E. Aronson, Clinical Voice Disorders: An Interdisciplinary Approach (New York: Thieme, Inc., 1985),

9 CHAPTER 1 THE PROS AND CONS OF HIGH, LOW, AND DEPRESSED LARYNGEAL POSITIONS: THE CASE FOR THE COMFORTABLY LOW LARYNX The human larynx is capable of producing singing sounds from several different positions. While general consensus between voice scientists and pedagogues agrees that the larynx should remain low, there are yet divergent ideas about laryngeal positioning. 5 This chapter will discuss the pros and cons of the high, low, and depressed laryngeal positions in singing, and establish the low, stable larynx as the optimal position for the classical/operatic voice. High Larynx Singing with an elevated laryngeal position consists of any upward excursion by the larynx (away from its at-rest position) during singing. According to Marilee David, Singers elevate their larynges under a variety of circumstances. Some find a relaxed laryngeal position only when not singing; others move their larynges up and down with pitch, much 5 James C. McKinney, The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults (Nashville: Genevox Music Group, 1994), 133; Ingo Titze, Raised Versus Lowered Larynx Singing, NATS Journal 50, no. 2 (November/December 1993), 37. 2

10 like climbing stairs. 6 The elevated larynx can occur in both speaking and singing, typically as pitch rises. 7 The larynx elevates when the muscles of the tongue, jaw and or neck become active participants in pitch change. Laryngeal elevation tends to occur naturally in untrained singers. Perceived Pros If there were no perceived payoff to using a high laryngeal position, people would not form the habit in the first place. So, what advantages does the raised laryngeal position offer, and do they extend into operatic singing? There are in fact certain aspects of singing that seem to come easier when using a high laryngeal position. The elevated larynx can help untrained singers reach higher notes more quickly, can produce sounds akin to those heard in popular music, can facilitate types of choral singing, and can be used in lieu of a true pianissimo to create the softest dynamics. For some, the advantages of allowing the high laryngeal position may include personal aesthetic preferences for light singing used in some Baroque and early Classical music. The worth of each of these advantages must then be weighed against that of alternative laryngeal positions in light of the singer s and teacher s overall musical goals and values. For most singers and many teachers, an awareness of the laryngeal position is something that lies below the level of consciousness. Callaghan states, Conscious control of the larynx is seen by many teachers as either impossible or undesirable. 8 Many singers do not purposely choose a specific laryngeal position. Instead, they arrive at their position based on what allows them to sing what they want to sing. Vennard claimed that most untrained singers only know how to use one vocal register. He found that untrained male singers often use only a tense, heavy production, and thus their unused register is the falsetto. He further claimed that when one of these singers ascends the scale, they end up cracking into 1995), Marilee David, The New Voice Pedagogy (Lanham, Md: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 7 Johan Sundberg, The Science of the Singing Voice (Dekalb, IL: Northern Illinois University Press, 1987), Jean Callaghan, The Implications of Voice Science for Voice Pedagogy: The Singer s Formant, NATS Journal 50, no. 5 (May/June 1994), 7. 3

11 falsetto. 9 As beginning singers make attempts at singing in the higher parts of the range and avoiding falsetto, they often inadvertently allow the larynx to move with the pitch, and thus are able to produce pitches outside the speaking range into the area of the voice known as the zona di passaggio. The high laryngeal position can also seem conducive to producing high notes. Titze established that the raised laryngeal position makes use of extrinsic laryngeal muscles to assist in elongating the vocal folds, and the result is a brighter sound quality, and an easier excursion into the extreme high notes of the pitch range. Titze admits that the untrained singer may simply be able to reach certain notes more quickly by allowing the larynx to move freely. 10 Perhaps this is the very reason that so many beginning singers develop habits of laryngeal elevation: they can reach higher notes more quickly, without having first established other technical aspects such as breath management and posture. Male voices in particular may find that elevating the larynx provides them a way to sing higher notes without breaking into falsetto. Tenors are more prone to develop habits of laryngeal elevation because more of their music lies well above the normal speaking voice range. Another perceived advantage to singing with a raised laryngeal position is that it can allow singers to produce tone qualities that are familiar to them as is commonly heard in popular music. According to Timberlake, Some male pop singers who sing seemingly only in the upper fifth or sixth of the tenor range (F4-D5)...function with an extraordinary instinct for survival between open and closed production. 11 The open, or yell-like, quality referred to by Timberlake is a common attribute of raised laryngeal singing, and it should not be confused with open throat singing, or gola aperta, which has a connection to low-larynx singing. Instead, open singing here refers to the screechy, spread sound that results when one sings into the top voice without modifying vowels. Singers who grow up with high exposure to popular music may naturally migrate towards that type of vocal production. Habits of 9 William Vennard, Singing: The Mechanism and the Technic (New York: Carl Fischer, Inc., 1967), Titze, Raised Versus Lowered Larynx Singing, Timberlake, Laryngeal Positioning, 42. 4

12 laryngeal elevation may form based on one s tonal ideals of popular music that exist prior to the student s study of the classical technique. Often, choirs contain singers who lack classical vocal training, and therefore naturally use an elevated laryngeal position. The sound produced by a raised larynx can be easier to blend because it lacks singer s formant and is rarely as vibrant. Choir directors who prefer soft, straight-toned singing are more likely to elicit raised-laryngeal vocal production from their singers. In choirs that strive for a particularly blended sound, young singers are compelled to find a way to sing in such a way that their voices do not stick out. The high laryngeal position allows singers to phonate without acquiring the kind of acoustic intensity that would result in a disruption of the group s blend. The raised laryngeal position is particularly prevalent in choral tenors who are required to sing above the staff for prolonged periods of time. This type of singing can occur with a raised laryngeal position, and rarely without vocal strain. Another perceived advantage of the high laryngeal position is the ability to produce soft dynamics, particularly in the upper half of the vocal range. These soft sounds are characterized by a lack of core or resonance. Richard miller calls this sound voce finta, or feigned voice. Miller allows that singers may occasionally unseat their vocal mechanism to produce voce finta when expressing certain emotions or tone colors. 12 However, those who sing with the raised laryngeal position end up using voce finta regularly in lieu of a true supported pianissimo. To them it may seem easy to sing softly in the higher register, but the sound will lack resonance. Voce finta may appeal to some tastes, and some settings. The high laryngeal position in singing does have certain perceived advantages within specific contexts. Untrained singers may find it easier to produce higher notes, they may produce a sound similar to the tonal ideals in popular music, they can find success in the choral setting, and they can produce soft dynamics even in higher registers. However, as evidenced below, such advantages are only perceived, and not applicable in most classical solo singing. 12 Miller, Training Tenor Voices,

13 Cons There are a variety of disadvantages to singing with an elevated laryngeal position in classical singing. First, the high laryngeal position is far less likely to produce the singer s formant. Second, it can produce tones that are aesthetically inferior and atypical of the operatic sound. Third, it can handicap other aspects of the vocal technique, and cause undue stress on the vocal mechanism. According to Morris and Weiss, The production of a strong singer s formant for the training of stage singers is an apparent universally desirable goal in voice pedagogy. 13 The singer s formant is an acoustical boost of energy marked by overtones of Hertz, which is often known as ring. Sundberg clarifies some of the virtues of having the singer s formant: The singer s formant...seems to facilitate our hearing of the singer s voice when the orchestral accompaniment is loud; the singer s formant improves the audibility of the voice without extra cost in vocal effort. 14 In operatic singing, where electronic amplification of the voice is atypical, it is necessary for voices to emerge through the orchestra. The frequencies of the singer s formant are unique within orchestral texture, which allows the voice to be heard. 15 One of the most important disadvantages of singing with a high laryngeal position is that the raised larynx usually eliminates the singer s formant. There are two main reasons why an elevated larynx will not likely produce the singer s formant. First, raising the larynx shortens the vocal tract, which decreases resonating space above the glottis and tends to constrict the throat. 16 Second, high laryngeal production alters the conditions of vocal fold vibration by using extrinsic muscles, rather than intrinsic ones, to stretch the cords for higher pitches. While the exact origin of the singer s formant is not known, most voice scientists feel that it is either a phenomenon of resonance generated in the laryngeal area, an issue of 13 J. Morris and R. Weiss, The Singer s Formant Revisited: Pedagogical Implications Based on a New Study, Journal of Singing 53 (January/February 1997), Timberlake, Laryngeal Positioning, McKinney, Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults, Ibid.,

14 proper vocal fold vibration in the larynx, or a combination of both. 17 In any case, experts concur that raising the larynx disrupts both the resonating conditions and vibrating conditions of the voice, thereby dampening singer s formant. Without the benefit of the singer s formant, high-larynx singers will not be heard as well through orchestral textures or attain the thrilling vocal brilliance associated with operatic singing. Another disadvantage to using the high laryngeal position relates to the types of tones that are produced. Appelman claims, Each laryngeal position will affect the timbre and character of the voice. He then goes on to say that the elevated larynx produces sounds that are blatant and colorless. 18 Sundberg describes the sound as shrill. 19 G. B. Lamperti notes that tones produced by tipping the head too far back while singing makes the sound too white and endangers control. 20 Tipping the head back, or jutting it forward while singing are tell-tale signs of the raised laryngeal position. Enrico Caruso wrote, Singers, especially tenors, are very apt to throw the head forward in producing high notes, and consequently get throaty, strained voice, which is so disagreeable. 21 raised-larynx sound results in tight, strident, or harsh tones. 22 David suggests that the Richard Miller, who associates the raised laryngeal position with the French school of singing, wrote the following: A tight-necked quality of sound manifests itself more frequently among Frenchtrained singers than elsewhere in the four major schools. In its most extreme example, a high degree of nasality is present. The sound which results is produced by a lowered velum, raised tongue, and hyoidal and laryngeal elevation. Some 17 Ibid., D. Ralph Appelman, The Science of Vocal Pedagogy: Theory and Application (London: Indiana University Press, 1967), 82, Sundberg, The Science of the Singing Voice, William Earl Brown, Vocal Wisdom: Maxims of Giovanni Battista Lamperti (Boston: Crescendo Publishing Co., 1957), P. Mario Marafioti, M.D., Caruso s Method of Voice Production: The Scientific Culture of the Voice (New York: D. Appleman and Company, 1922), David, The New Voice Pedagogy, 39. 7

15 coloraturas of the Italian and French schools often resort to the elevated larynx, producing a sound which is characteristically white, shrill, and blatant. 23 It is clear from the above examples that the elevated laryngeal position produces a tone that is not aesthetically acceptable in operatic or classical singing. Finally, singing with an elevated larynx has a domino effect on other issues of vocal technique and can put undue stress on the vocal folds. Posture, phonation, breath, registration, articulation, stamina, and vocal health can all be altered by virtue of laryngeal position. Singers who use the high laryngeal position will usually have poor posture. The posture of a high-larynx singer may include a craned neck, a jutting jaw, and an elevated chin. 24 This type of posture is discouraged in every vocal pedagogy book surveyed here. Along with posture, the elevated larynx commonly produces a pressed phonation. 25 With the extrinsic muscles regulating pitch control, the vocal folds can become unduly tense, requiring more airflow. This causes the folds to approximate in a forced manner. Miller adds, Whenever the larynx is maintained at a less than optimal posture in phonation, airflow rate is adversely affected. 26 phonation. Good singing cannot be achieved without finding a balanced The high laryngeal position can also have a negative influence on breath management. In order for high-larynx singers to compensate for their lack of resonance, they tend to become frantic with their breathing. Instead of calm, energized muscular antagonism, they may resort to gasping for air, and pushing and heaving their way through vocally intense music. 23 Richard Miller, National Schools of Singing: English, French, German, and Italian Techniques of Singing Revisited (Lanham, Md: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1997), Miller, Training Tenor Voices, Robert T. Sataloff, M.D., D.M.A., Professional Voice: The Science and Art of Clinical Care, 2d ed. (San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group, Inc., 1997), 176; Sundberg, The Science of the Singing Voice, Miller, Training Tenor Voices,

16 Another likely result of the elevated-larynx technique is uneven registration. In singers in whom the larynx pops up only when the pitch rises, a disparity of tonal quality will likely exist. In the comfortable, low-middle range, these singers are more apt to produce a free, tonally rich sound, but as the larynx rises, the vocal quality will change to the more shrill, pressed sound associated with the raised laryngeal position. Articulation can also be disrupted by elevating the larynx. The tongue plays a primary role in articulation. 27 Since muscles of the tongue connect to the larynx extrinsically, the tongue s ability to articulate properly has a connection to laryngeal position. Finally, the high laryngeal position can cause vocal health problems. Pressed, or hyper functional phonation, typical of raised-larynx singing, occurs when there is too much tension in the larynx. Doscher notes that the intrinsic muscles of the larynx become overworked in high-larynx production. 28 The vocal folds slap together so vigorously that they can become swollen and strained. Vocal health and stamina greatly diminish when using an elevated laryngeal position. Conclusion Most vocal pedagogues discourage using the high laryngeal position. Nonetheless, within certain settings, some singers may derive a few perceived advantages by using the position. Perceived advantages may include: a quick access into the high voice, a pop tonal quality, a sound conducive to choral singing, and a quick way to produce soft dynamics. The disadvantages of using an elevated larynx in singing are numerous, and from the perspective of classical singing, far outweigh the possible advantages. The high laryngeal position will not often produce sounds with singer s formant, and therefore, the sound will not be loud enough to penetrate many orchestral textures. Also, tones produced with an elevated laryngeal position are often unappealing and inappropriate in classical music. In addition, the high laryngeal position tends to inhibit other aspects of the vocal technique and cause vocal health issues. 27 Barbara Doscher, The Functional Unity of the Singing Voice, 2 nd ed. (Lanham, Md.: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1994), Ibid., 53. 9

17 Low-Larynx The comfortably low laryngeal position in singing occurs when the larynx remains in the at-rest position or slightly lower. In this position, there are no significant excursions upward during phonation in any part of the vocal range. Most modern vocal pedagogues advocate the comfortably low laryngeal position. Miller writes: The stabilized larynx, neither ascending nor descending for pitch change, nor bobbing about in an unsupported way with syllabic definition, is essential to all good singing. Studies with international singers of note prove that laryngeal position remains stable in elite vocalism. 29 The low laryngeal position occurs when a proper muscular antagonism between the swallowing and yawning muscles is established. There are many advantages to using the low laryngeal position, and few if any disadvantages. Using the low laryngeal position will influence matters of resonance, stamina, timbre, registration, and visual presentation. Pros As mentioned previously, the low laryngeal position is usually necessary in order for one to acquire singer s formant. Referring to studies done by Sundberg, Sataloff explains: Experiments with acoustic models of the vocal tract showed that such a ring of formants can be attained if the pharynx is wide as compared with the entrance to the larynx tube. It seems that, in many singers, this is obtained by a lowering of the larynx. In this case the larynx tube acts as a separate resonance which can appear in the vicinity of 2.8 khz. 30 With the larynx in a comfortably low position, a fortuitous relationship between the opening of the larynx and the pharynx is created, resulting in the presence of singer s formant. As previously discussed, the singer s formant allows performers to penetrate thick orchestral textures without exerting strain on the vocal apparatus. 29 Miller, Training Tenor Voices, Sataloff, Professional Voice, 174. Italics added for emphasis. 10

18 Increased vocal stamina is another advantage to the low, stable larynx. With a lowlarynx technique, the extrinsic muscles act as stabilizers and do not actively participate in pitch change. With the larynx stable, the intrinsic muscles are left to assume the responsibility for altering pitch. Speech therapists Cooper and Cooper note: Our aim should be to relax the extrinsic muscles as well as the outer muscles above our shoulders, and then to maintain this relationship while we make sounds. By doing this, we are clearing the way to allow the inner muscles of the larynx to function unobstructedly in the production of sound. In a healthy throat, if the outer muscles are relaxed, the inner ones will take care of themselves. 31 The lower laryngeal position enables the vocal folds to vibrate without added pressure from the extrinsic muscles. Less strain on the vocal folds allows singers to sing for longer intervals without tiring. Doscher explains: In a strained, pinched production...when the larynx is too high, the intrinsic muscles are over-worked. 32 The low laryngeal position requires singers to modify their vowels when changing registers. This technique, variously referred to as aggiustamento, vowel modification, or covering, contributes to vocal longevity and stamina. Covering seems to include mechanisms that protect the vocal fold from excessive strain. Further, covered singing near the passaggio shares some characteristics with the so-called flow phonation and is probably desirable from the point of view of vocal hygiene. 33 The opposite of covering, known as open or spread singing, is a byproduct of the elevated-larynx technique and causes undue vocal strain. The low-larynx technique enables the vocal folds to function with less fatigue, therefore giving the singer greater stamina. One of the most valuable benefits of using a stable, low laryngeal position is the operatic timbre it can produce. By keeping the larynx in its low position, the vocal tract remains elongated, which produces a darker, fuller sound. 34 Not only will the sound have 31 M. Cooper and M. H. Cooper, eds., Approaches to Vocal Rehabilitation (Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, 1977), Doscher, Functional Unity of the Singing Voice, Stellan Hertegård, Jan Gauffin, and Johan Sundberg, Open and Covered Singing as Studied by Means of Fiberoptics, Inverse Filtering, and Spectral Analysis, Journal of Voice 4, no. 3 (1990), 229. Pedagogy, Sundberg, Science of the Singing Voice, 113; Appelman, Science of Vocal 11

19 greater resonance by virtue of the singer s formant, but it also will have a richer timbre that is desirable for operatic and most classical singing. Thrilling high notes are the ultimate goal for opera singers. High notes win competitions, get people jobs, and excite audiences. While not the only important virtue in classical singing, it probably gets the most attention, and therefore deserves just consideration from singers and teachers. With the low laryngeal position, singers can bring the spinetingling resonance of the singers formant, and the dark, rich timbre of the open throat into the high voice. This type of sound cannot be attained to the same degree with an elevated laryngeal position. If a singer desires a ringing, full, head voice, then a stable, low larynx must be achieved. Doscher claims that the pharyngeal space created by the low laryngeal position makes possible the full head voice. 35 Dealing with register transitions is an important concern of both teacher and singer. The ability to sing with a consistent tone quality throughout the range is a widely sought after goal in classical singing. Oren Brown asserts that the low larynx is a must for the integration of the different registers of the voice. 36 control. 37 registration: Shifting registers is an issue of laryngeal Voice teacher David L. Jones makes the following claim with regard to smooth If the larynx is trained to descend gently with inhalation...the back of the throat is trained to open beyond the back of the tongue. The soft palate is trained to lift and the result will be pharyngeal vowels or an open throat. Once this space is achieved, it has been my experience that a perfect blending of the registers is the result. 38 In low-larynx singing, the length of the vocal tract remains consistent at all times, which consequently keeps the voice quality consistent at all times. Singing with a low laryngeal position not only facilitates consistency of sound throughout the range, but may also facilitate voice classification. Doscher claims, Accurate 35 Doscher, Functional Unity of the Singing Voice, Oren L. Brown, Discover Your Voice: How to Develop Healthy Voice Habits (San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group, Inc., 1996), Callaghan, The Singer s Formant, David L. Jones, Understanding and Solving Problems in the Middle Register ( ), [Accessed June 14, 2004]. 12

20 voice classification is impossible without properly developed suspensory muscles. 39 The suspensory muscles assist in stabilization of the larynx. While some singers may be obviously one voice type from first hearing, others will only reveal their true voice type after they find the low laryngeal position. Untrained male voices usually break into falsetto when they approach their secondo passaggio. Less-informed teachers may be tempted to classify these voices as baritones or basses, only to find out later that they are tenors. Baritones may be misidentified as tenors if they constantly sing with an elevated larynx because of the lack of baritonal depth in the tone. With a low laryngeal position, the true identity of that voice can emerge. Registration events may also be different once a low laryngeal position is established. With the low laryngeal position, singers will be able to sing with consistent tone through the registers, and teachers can classify voices more accurately. Visual appearance, while not necessarily critical, is an important part of singing. Simply put, the posture required for the lower laryngeal position results in a noble, confident appearance for the singer. With the neck long, the upper jaw parallel to the ground, the chest relatively high, and the hips slightly tucked under, one not only provides an optimal scenario for the low-laryngeal position, but also creates a striking aesthetic appearance. By contrast, the craning neck, jutting chin, and collapsed chest that frequently accompany the elevated laryngeal technique will likely give a less favorable visual impression. Possible Cons The disadvantages to using the low laryngeal position are insignificant when compared to the advantages, and they apply only to the time period in which a student is learning to stabilize the larynx and relinquish old habits. These include the hard work and time involved in re-training the voice, and in some cases, the emotional hardship of giving up one s old sound for a new one. Since many singers enter their formal study of singing with habits of laryngeal instability, learning to stabilize the larynx can be an arduous process. This process can be frustrating, particularly when the singer has already established a vocal identity of which he is proud. In cases of severe laryngeal tension and elevation, some singers will need to 39 Doscher, Functional Unity of the Singing Voice,

21 completely start over and re-train the voice to stabilize the larynx. Also, establishing the lowlarynx position requires simultaneous coordination of other technical aspects of singing like breath management and posture. Therefore, some singers may find that they cannot access the higher parts of the range as quickly when they have not yet established other parts of their technique. Learning to produce a legitimate pianissimo, particularly in the upper range takes most singers a long period of time to master with a stable larynx. The result is a superior tonal quality than the elevated-larynx equivalent, but it requires more time and work to master. Aside from the hard work involved in stabilizing the larynx and the emotional difficulty of starting over, the low-larynx technique has no other major disadvantages. Conclusion Most modern vocal pedagogues, voice scientists, and speech therapists advocate a moderately low, stable position in singing and speaking. The benefits attained by using a low laryngeal position range from superior power and resonance capabilities, to greater vocal stamina, a richer timbre, more thrilling high notes, blended vocal registers, and even a more stately visual representation. Disadvantages are minuscule and only relate to the potential difficulty and effort required in achieving laryngeal stability. Depressed Larynx The depressed larynx position occurs when the larynx is purposely pushed lower than the at-rest position by the base of the tongue and by tucking the chin. Sometimes this type of laryngeal position has been associated with the German school of singing, typified in the late nineteenth century teachings of Julius Stockhausen. 40 Depressing the larynx will alter the timbre and resonance of the voice and introduce a thicker configuration of the vocal folds during phonation. 40 Miller, National Schools of Singing,

22 Perceived Pros Singing with a depressed laryngeal position elongates the vocal tract and therefore creates a darker sound. This sound will often seem more resonant to the singer than it is in reality. Proponents of the depressed-larynx technique often strive for an accompanying yawn feeling, which opens the pharynx further. 41 Titze claims that the vocal folds are likely to be thicker...based on the fact that, when the entire larynx is depressed, the tissue inside the larynx tends to bunch up against the tracheal mucosa. The large pharynx, combined with the increased thickness in the vocal folds, produces a fuller sound with a strong fundamental frequency. 42 Cons Numerous vocal pedagogues warn singers against depressing the larynx because they view it to be harmful to the voice. 43 Titze suggests that using a depressed larynx can be more effortful for the vocal folds, and can cause singers to run out of pitch range. 44 With the larynx too low, singers will have a difficult time finding the higher partials in their resonance, which can disrupt their ability to project their voice optimally. In summary, the depressed larynx can be harmful to the vocal folds, can limit production of high notes, and can inhibit higher partials. Conclusion The depressed larynx technique provides a full, dark sound with a strong fundamental frequency, but it can be harmful to the vocal folds and can limit the high range, as well as the bright resonance that comes from the presence of higher partials. Since this treatise addresses 41 Ibid., Titze, Raised Versus Lowered Larynx Singing, Ariel Bybee and James E. Ford, The Modern Singing Master: Essays in Honor of Cornelius L. Reid (Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2002), 30; Lucie Manén, Bel Canto: The Teaching of Classical Italian Song-Schools: Its Decline and Restoration (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987), 49; Brown, Discover Your Voice, Titze, Raised Versus Lowered Larynx Singing,

23 the opposite issue of the elevated larynx, no further exploration of depressed larynx singing is needed here. However, more research on the subject could prove valuable. Summary The comfortably low, stable laryngeal position is optimal in classical singing. The elevated and depressed laryngeal positions can cause vocal strain and inferior results, while the low laryngeal position provides maximum vocal health, maximum acoustical advantages, full high notes, and the most favorable tonal qualities. Teachers and students must be aware of the importance of laryngeal positioning. They need to know the positive and negative consequences that result from each position in order to accomplish a high level of competency in classical singing. 16

24 CHAPTER 2 STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING THE COMFORTABLY LOW LARYNGEAL POSITION Teachers need a flexible approach, a more objective terminology, and the ability to teach singing as a fine motor skill requiring movement pattern recognition, kinesthetic awareness and memory, and learned sequencing of the component process. 45 Voice teachers address laryngeal stability in a variety of ways. Some prefer to avoid speaking of the laryngeal position at all, opting to focus on releasing tension around the larynx. Other teachers bring laryngeal position to a conscious level for students in order to help students understand its importance. Since different singers will benefit from different approaches to the issue, teachers should be able to adapt their method to the needs of the individual. This paper provides three approaches to teaching the low laryngeal position designed to help students with varying degrees of habitual laryngeal elevation. An indirect approach provides beginning students and most female voices a way to settle the larynx without over-complicating the issue. A direct approach makes laryngeal position a matter of consciousness, and it centers on re-training those voices with more serious habits of instability. A behavioral approach will combine direct and indirect methods of stabilizing the larynx with principles of behavior modification in order to help students overcome the most extreme cases of laryngeal elevation. This chapter will include a brief explanation of each approach, then discuss how to diagnose laryngeal elevation and how to select the proper approach for a student. 45 Callaghan, The Singer s Formant, 7. 17

25 Indirect Approach Many voice teachers already employ several aspects of the indirect approach in their teaching. Whether or not they use these aspects intentionally to address laryngeal stability is questionable. The truth is, the position of the larynx can be changed and controlled without an actual awareness of the larynx s location. By establishing proper posture, and teaching students how to breath diaphragmatically, teachers encourage a low laryngeal position. Teachers who use vocal exercises or imagery to eradicate tension of the tongue, jaw, and neck are also in essence facilitating a low laryngeal position. If students are able to adopt the skills of posture, breathing, and relaxing tension within a reasonable time frame, the indirect approach is preferable. The indirect approach does not require a period of re-training the voice, so it is easier on both student and teacher. It allows the singer to continue on his current path of progress without major detours. In the voice studio, where time and efficacy are essential, the simplest approach (as long as it meets the needs of the student) is usually best. Direct Approach The direct approach to teaching the low laryngeal position requires a conscious awareness of the location of the larynx at all times. This approach is for use with students who have an obvious problem with laryngeal instability, and is therefore more focused and aggressive. The direct approach basically requires the student to start over with his vocal technique and retrain the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the larynx to phonate and change pitch in a different way. Laryngeal position is discussed and monitored in specific terms during voice lessons, and exercises are employed with the purpose of stabilizing the larynx in its comfortably low position. The direct approach utilizes the techniques of the indirect 18

26 approach, but it adds several other methods geared specifically toward lowering the larynx. These additional methods include: larynx tracking, primal sounds, and the chewing method. 46 The direct approach is ideal for those students who have studied voice for some time and have developed a technique around laryngeal elevation rather than correcting their laryngeal instability. Behavioral Approach The behavioral approach to teaching the low laryngeal position utilizes any or all of the methods described in the indirect and direct approaches, but this approach combines them with a knowledge and implementation of behavioral techniques. Behavior modification or behavior management is a field of study and practice that has been used successfully since the 1960s in a variety of settings and disciplines. 47 It involves methods designed to help others change their behaviors by structuring the outcomes or consequences of the targeted behaviors. Becoming familiar with the most salient behavioral principles will give teachers a great advantage in the voice studio. Since laryngeal instability can be an extremely difficult behavior or set of behaviors to change, a practical understanding and application of behavioral principles will further empower teachers to help students adopt the behaviors necessary to achieve the low laryngeal position. While behavior principles can and should influence every stage of teaching, the behavioral method suits the most extreme cases of laryngeal instability in particular. 46 Larynx tracking: Miller, Training Tenor Voices, 125; David, New Voice Pedagogy, 45. Primal sounds: Brown, Discover Your Voice, 9; Callaghan, Singer s Formant, 7. Chewing method: David, New Voice Pedagogy, Alan E. Kazdin, Ph.D., History of Behavior Modification: Experimental Foundations of Contemporary Research (Baltimore: University Park Press, 1978), 7. 19

27 Selecting an Approach Teachers should select the approach that will help singers establish the low laryngeal position most efficiently. When choosing an approach for teaching the low laryngeal position, teachers may need to hear the singers on more than one occasion. The teacher must both observe the student s singing behaviors, and become familiar with the student s performing history and length of study. Then the teacher can diagnose the level of laryngeal instability and find the best approach to establishing proper laryngeal positioning. the following: While observing the male student during the first few lessons, teachers should note 1. Is the student s Adam s apple easily visible? 2. If so, does it move up and down during singing? 3. How far does the Adam s apple move during singing? (This will require the teacher to lightly place a finger on the notch of the thyroid cartilage during observation.) 4. When does the Adam s apple ascend/descend? At the onset? As pitch rises? During inhalation? 5. What is the student s chin posture during singing? Does it rise or jut out at any part of the vocal range? Is it tucked inward? 6. Is the back of the neck long and straight or does it appear tense and craned forward? Can the student sing in all parts of the range with the back of the neck relaxed? 7. Is inhalation frequently a noisy gasp, or is it silent? 8. Is the chest posture noble and expanded, or does it cave in, and appear apologetic? 9. Does the voice change in quality from low to high? 10. Do high notes sound too open, spread, or yell-like? 11. Does the voice have a consistent ring in the sound? If the Adam s apple moves upward noticeably at any point during the singing process (other than to swallow between phrases), then the student suffers from laryngeal instability. Minor twitches of movement in the larynx are normal, and can be seen during articulation, but any upward jumps of the larynx indicate laryngeal instability. Teachers should pay 20

28 attention to when the larynx moves so that when correcting the problem, they can address the behavior in context with its antecedents. If the chin juts forward or raises upward during singing, it may be an indicator of extrinsic musculature assisting in pitch change by raising the larynx. 48 Teachers should note approximately where in the pitch range the movement of the chin occurs. If the chin is tucked inward, the problem is more likely a depressed larynx which will receive no further treatment here. 49 If the back of the neck is craned forward or appears tense that is another indicator of laryngeal instability. 50 Students who elevate the larynx have trouble singing higher than their normal speaking range without tensing the back of the neck. They will continually revert to poor neck posture as they ascend the scale. The noisy inhalation can indicate a larynx that flies upward during inhalation, whereas a quiet breath facilitates a lowering of the larynx. 51 A collapsed chest can disrupt the ability of the extrinsic muscles to stabilize the larynx, whereas a noble chest posture will facilitate laryngeal stabilization. 52 A collapsing of the chest also denotes clavicular breathing, which may help keep the larynx high during inhalation. Audible indicators of laryngeal instability may include a significant change in the tone quality of the voice in different registers, or an open, spread, or yell-like sound. Once the teacher s ear becomes adept at recognizing singer s formant, then the absence of that formant in the sound can indicate laryngeal instability. Answering the above questions accurately will equip teachers to address laryngeal positioning, and select an appropriate approach to teach laryngeal stability. 48 Miller, Training Tenor Voices, 123; idem, National Schools of Singing, Miller, National Schools of Singing, David, The New Voice Pedagogy, Miller, Training Tenor Voices, Manén, Bel Canto,

29 In addition to observing students, teachers should inquire about their student s past vocal history. This will help the teacher gauge how long the student has been singing with an elevated laryngeal position and to what extent the habits have been formed. This information can be useful when selecting the right approach to teaching the low laryngeal position. The following sample questions will provide the teacher with helpful insights about the student s background: 1. How long have you been studying singing? 2. Have you sung in choirs before, and for how long? 3. What do you like most about your voice? 4. What do you consider your most successful singing moment? 5. What do you think you need to work on vocally? 6. How much time do you spend singing each day? 7. How long can you sing before feeling vocally tired, strained, or hoarse? After observing a student sing, and discussing the student s vocal background, a teacher should be able to assess how serious the case of instability is, and select an approach to teaching the correct position. The following information should prove helpful in selecting an approach: 1. The Indirect Approach. This approach is best for milder cases of instability, evidenced in the following types of students: a. Singers who have had very little, if any, prior vocal study. b. Singers who are able to adjust their posture and maintain it immediately while phonating on a variety of pitches. c. Female singers. Females who sing classical repertoire tend to exhibit fewer problems with habitual laryngeal elevation. d. Singers who only rarely and inconsistently raise the larynx during singing. e. Singers who exhibit only minor and occasional upward laryngeal movement. f. Singers who respond with quick results to instruction involving neck, tongue, and jaw relaxation. 2. The Direct Approach is for singers with moderate to severe cases of laryngeal instability. Candidates for the direct approach include the following: 22

30 a. Any male singer whose Adam s apple regularly rises during phonation or inspiration. b. Singers who have been studying voice for more than a year, but still exhibit the jutting jaw and craning neck. c. Tenors with a choral background who sound thin and strained in the upper voice, or lack singer s formant in combination with any of the usual signs of laryngeal instability. 3. The Behavioral Approach is for the most severe cases of laryngeal instability. Candidates for the behavioral approach include: a. Singers who have already been studying voice and performing (perhaps for several years) using the elevated laryngeal position. b. Singers who may have achieved a degree of success and proficiency with their old technique, but continue to lack ring in the voice. Note: These cases are harder to diagnose, and may have slipped by other teachers in the past. Tracking the larynx manually during singing of repertoire that exposes the secondo passaggio and above, will reveal most problems with laryngeal elevation. It is also helpful to listen to the singer with an orchestra or in a large space to judge if the voice has sufficient resonance and presence in the space. Summary While none of the three approaches will harm the student if done correctly, an efficient teacher will not want to spend valuable studio time on a detailed process when the issue can be solved by an easier approach. The direct and behavioral approaches involve a vocal overhaul and are appropriate for students with more severe habits of laryngeal instability. The indirect approach can be used with beginners as well as those who have 23

31 established a good basic vocal technique but only occasionally exhibit minor laryngeal instability. The next three chapters will present each of the three approaches in detail. 24